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Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 21446

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Armando Cocca

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Guest Editor

Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Interests: physical, psychological and social health; youth; exercise; physical education; school

Special Issue Information

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health has now established a Special Issue on “Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours”.

Currently, the concept of health consists of different areas of an individual’s life, which can be grouped into physical, mental, and social domains (WHO, 1986). The physical domain refers to all those processes that are needed for the body to function and perform effectively (Capio et al., 2014). Mental health indicates a state of internal balance that allows people to perceive themselves and their lived environment in a proper manner (Galderisi et al., 2015). Social health includes all the interactions between a person and others within a community and how such interactions prompt—or hinder—personal and community growth (Waite, 2018). Each of these domains can be enhanced through healthy behaviours, which are particularly important at early ages. In fact, such behaviours learnt during youth are more likely to be maintained in adulthood and elderly life (Telama et al., 2013).

With this Special Issue, we wish to present works aimed at enhancing one or more health domains in youth through behavioural strategies and active habits.

Dr. Armando Cocca
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

behavioural change
exercise
fitness
disease prevention
risk behaviours
biological indicators of health
self-perception
social support
social inclusion
equality

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of a Physical Exercise Program and Health Advice on Sedentary Behavior of Adolescents

by Rodolfo Carlos dos Santos Silva Filho, Jeffer Eidi Sasaki, Alex Pinheiro Gordia and Alynne Christian Ribeiro Andaki

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1064; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021064 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1981

Abstract

Sedentary behavior (SB) is a risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the effects of an extracurricular physical exercise program and health advice on SB in adolescents. This was a non-randomized experimental study involving 19 adolescents divided into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG), aged 13–16 years from a public school in a Brazilian municipality. SB was measured using self-reports and accelerometers. The intervention included physical exercise and health advice. Repeated measures analysis of variance with a significance level of α = 5% was used. There was a time*group interaction for the subscapular fold ((pre IG = 16.30 mm vs. CG = 13.44 mm, post IG = 14.00 mm vs. CG = 15.89 mm) p = 0.001), and VO₂MAX ((pre IG = 32.75 mL/kg/min vs. CG = 30.66 mL/kg/min, post IG = 35.76 mL/kg/min vs. CG = 29.28 mL/kg/min) p = 0.008). The accelerometer showed significant differences between groups in the total SB ((pre IG = 647.49 min/day vs. CG = 535.24 min/day, post IG = 614.02 min/day vs. CG = 586.97 min/day) p = 0.045), with a significant decrease in the IG. In conclusion, an extracurricular physical exercise program and health advice was effective in reducing SB in adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours)

23 pages, 663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sport Motivation from the Perspective of Health, Institutional Embeddedness and Academic Persistence among Higher Educational Students

by Karolina Eszter Kovács, Klára Kovács, Fruzsina Szabó, Beáta Andrea Dan, Zsolt Szakál, Marianna Moravecz, Dániel Szabó, Tímea Olajos, Csilla Csukonyi, Dávid Papp, Balázs Őrsi and Gabriella Pusztai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7423; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127423 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2965

Abstract

Regular physical activity from an early age is an important part of a healthy life because if we incorporate exercise early into our lifestyle, we are more likely to maintain our commitment to sport into adulthood and even throughout our lives. In our research, we used the PERSIST 2019 database, which contains data from students at higher education institutions in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, and Serbia. We used factor analysis to isolate four sports motivation factors (intrinsic, introjected, extrinsic, and amotivation). Factors influencing the different types were measured using linear regression analysis, involving the variables in four models. The results show that the effects of the sociodemographic variables are significant for gender, country, and mother’s job, especially in terms of intrinsic, introjected, and extrinsic motivation. The role of coping is salient for health awareness factors, with a positive effect on intrinsic motivation and a negative effect on the other types. The impacts of quality of education and support are typically negative, while the positive effect of satisfaction with infrastructure is noteworthy. The effect of persistence in sport on intrinsic and introjected motivation is positive. Frequency of training increases intrinsic motivation, while practical sport embeddedness generates extrinsic motivation. In terms of relationships, a mainly teacher-oriented network within the institution typically has a negative effect on intrinsic motivation, while peer relationships outside the institution typically increase intrinsic and extrinsic sport motivation. Academic persistence has a positive effect on intrinsic motivation and a negative effect on introjected motivation. Our research highlights the complexity of factors influencing sport motivation and the role of coping, which typically remains strong when relationship-related variables are included. In addition, we must emphasise the dominant role of relationship network patterns, which may even reduce commitment to sport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours)

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23 pages, 1004 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Behaviors of Austrian Secondary Level Pupils at a Glance: First Results of the From Science 2 School Study Focusing on Sports Linked to Mixed, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diets

by Katharina C. Wirnitzer, Clemens Drenowatz, Armando Cocca, Derrick R. Tanous, Mohamad Motevalli, Gerold Wirnitzer, Manuel Schätzer, Gerhard Ruedl and Werner Kirschner

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12782; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312782 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3380

Abstract

Attaining healthy behaviors is essential at any life stage, particularly childhood, due to the strong link between children’s lifestyle and the subsequent adult state of health. This multidisciplinary study aimed to assess lifestyle behaviors of Austrian pupils of secondary schools I and II, with a specific focus on PA habits and diet types based on a large sample. In total, 8845 children/adolescents participated in the short standardized online survey on relevant health-related aspects nationwide. Valid and complete data was provided by 8799 pupils, including 1.14% of the eligible 771,525; 63% girls, 76% having a normal body weight, 70% attending secondary schools II, and more pupils/students living in rural vs. urban areas (3:1 ratio). Across the total sample, 11.8% were considered overweight/obese with a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity in boys than girls (15.5% vs. 9.6%) and urban vs. rural participants (13.9% vs. 10.8%; p < 0.05). The majority of participants (84.5%) reported a mixed diet, while 7.2% and 8.5% reported a vegan and vegetarian diet, respectively. Vegans reported a lesser alcohol intake (p < 0.05) compared to non-vegan pupils (no difference in dietary subgroups for smoking). Although overall PA and dietary behaviors suggest an appropriate health status among Austrian youth, attention should be focused on policies to increase healthy lifestyle habits at best through a dual approach to health permanently combining regular PA, sports, and exercise with a healthy diet, which would contribute to matching the current recommendations for improving individual and public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours)

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13 pages, 662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Parental Education and Physical Activity on the Long-Term Development of the Physical Fitness of Primary School Children: An Observational Study

by Gerhard Ruedl, Martin Niedermeier, Lukas Wimmer, Vivien Ploner, Elena Pocecco, Armando Cocca and Klaus Greier

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8736; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168736 - 19 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2873

Abstract

Low physical fitness (PF) has been associated with higher risk of suffering from different diseases. The importance of PF is evident already in early ages, as children’s PF appears to be a key factor of their future PF and physical activity level. Among the variables that may have an influence on children’s PF, the importance of parent’s socioeconomic status and active/inactive behaviors has been stressed in several previous studies. However, previous literature has mostly reported this association through cross-sectional studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of parental education and self-reported parental physical activity (PA) on their children’s development of PF during the 4-year duration of primary education. Using German Motor Test 6-18, the major components of PF (sprint velocity, coordination, flexibility, strength endurance, power, and endurance) were measured on a total of 371 children (46.9% girls, 30.6% migration background, 19.6% overweight/obese at the fourth test time point, compliance 70.1%) from 20 primary schools in Tyrol, Austria. Results showed that children with at least one parent with upper secondary education or above obtained significantly higher PF scores at all time points compared to children with both parents with lower secondary education and below. However, PF in both groups developed over time in a comparable manner irrespective of parental education. From the age of 9 years old, children with regularly physically active parents showed a stronger development of PF over the time compared to their peers with parents reporting irregular/no PA. Our results suggest that low-educated parents’ children might be considered a special target group for interventions aiming at increasing PF. More research is needed in order to delve into the potential underdevelopment of PF in 9-year-old children whose parents have low PA levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours)

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15 pages, 1067 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Online Bodyweight High-Intensity Interval Training Intervention and Health Education on the Mental Health and Cognition of Sedentary Young Females

by Yao Zhang, Beier Zhang, Liaoyan Gan, Limei Ke, Yingyao Fu, Qian Di and Xindong Ma

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(1), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010302 - 3 Jan 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5744

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an online high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention and health education on the behaviors, mental health, and cognitive function of sedentary young females. A single-blinded, six-week, randomized controlled pilot trial involving 70 sedentary young Chinese females, aged 18–30 years, was conducted. An intervention group (IG) (n = 33) underwent a HIIT intervention and health education, while a waitlist group (WG) (n = 37) only received health education. In pre-, mid-, and post-tests, both groups filled out questionnaires about physical activity, sedentary behavior, and mental health. Cognitive functions were assessed at the pre- and post-tests by computer-administered cognitive tests. A mixed-effect model with repeated measures was used to analyze outcomes of interest. The retention rate of the IG and WG was 100% and 78.38%, respectively. The IG were found to have significantly increased rates of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (M_diff = 940.61, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 576.67, 1304.55) from pre-test to post-test, while the WG demonstrated a more marked reduction in sedentary time (M_diff = −73.02, p = 0.038, 95% CI: −141.90, −4.14) compared with the IG in the post-test. Moreover, anxiety and stress levels were shown to significantly reduce in the IG over the six-week period (M_diff = −4.73, p = 0.002, 95% CI: −7.30, −2.15 and M_diff = −5.09, p = 0.001, 95% CI: −8.29, −1.89, respectively). In addition, we observed a significant improvement in verbal ability (p = 0.008,

η_{p}^{2}

= 0.19) following the HIIT intervention and effects of the interaction with time on processing speed (p = 0.050,

η_{p}^{2}

= 0.10) and episodic memory (p = 0.048,

η_{p}^{2}

= 0.11). Moreover, the IG had better global cognitive performance than the WG in the post-test (M_diff = 8.28, p = 0.003, 95% CI: 3.06, 13.50). In summary, both an online bodyweight HIIT intervention combined with health education, or health education alone, can effectively improve health-related behaviors, but the behavioral consequences may differ based on the emphasis of different intervention modalities. Furthermore, the “bodyweight HIIT plus health education” modality might be a more promising online intervention strategy to mitigate against negative emotions and improve cognitive function. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours)

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Review

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14 pages, 16415 KiB

Open AccessReview

Influence of Chronic Exposure to Exercise on Heart Rate Variability in Children and Adolescents Affected by Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Rodrigo M. Dias, Íbis A. P. Moraes, Maria T. A. P. Dantas, Deborah C. G. L. Fernani, Anne M. G. G. Fontes, Ana C. Silveira, Viviani Barnabé, Marcelo Fernandes, Patrícia M. Martinelli, Carlos B. M. Monteiro, David M. Garner, Luiz C. Abreu and Talita D. Silva

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11065; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111065 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3334

Abstract

Background: Sedentary lifestyles are increasingly common amongst children, and insufficient physical activity is a global epidemic estimated to contribute to future incapacities and potential deaths. Objective: We aimed to increase the amount of evidence concerning the effect of chronic exposure to exercise on heart rate variability in children and adolescents affected by obesity. Methods: A systematic review commenced following the PRISMA guidelines developed by Web of Science, Virtual Health Library, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Ovid, Medline Complete, and Scopus using keywords obtained from the Descriptors in Health Sciences and Medical Subject Headlines (MeSH) terms. We considered (1) Population: Pediatric individuals affected by obesity; (2) Intervention: Exercise; (3) Control: Pre-intervention and sedentary; (4) Outcomes: Clearly presented primary parameters; and (5) Studies: Clinical trials, case controls, case reports, and case series. Results: 11 articles were involved and predominantly included procedures observed during approximately 12 weeks with a distribution of three sessions per week, each session being 30–60 min of aerobic exercise; additionally, the exercise grades were typically completed at a percentage of subjects’ maximum heart rates. The meta-analyses displayed a significant effect on the domains of time (R-R interval, SDNN, rMSSD), frequency (HF ms², HF (n.u.), LF/HF), and the non-linear index (SD1). Conclusions: Chronic exposure to exercise influences heart rate variability in children and adolescents affected by obesity by elevating the variability and parasympathetic activity and improving the sympathetic-vagal balance. Exercises should be recommended for the improvement of cardiac autonomic modulation to prevent the likelihood of further chronic diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Youth through Exercise and Healthy Behaviours)

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